Sawtooth & Western Smoky Mtns

Last night's storm brought 2-4" of new snow to this zone and freshly formed wind drifts may be sensitive to your weight today. Small, loose snow avalanches are possible in areas where more snow has accumulated, particularly as the day warms up. Generally stable avalanche conditions exist and large avalanches are unlikely.

Last night's storm brought 2-4" of snowfall to this zone. This isn't enough to significantly change the avalanche hazard, but it does make the picture a bit messier. There isn't a single, well-defined avalanche problem today, but there are several things to be thinking about. Remember that even small slides can have high consequences if they knock you off your feet and carry you through unfriendly terrain. 

Wind Slabs: Moderate SW winds blew at the onset of the storm, eventually easing a bit and switching to blowing out of the NW/N/NE after the cold front passed. These winds built small, isolated slabs in terrain that is exposed to the wind. Though small, these slabs may be sensitive to your weight, thanks to the weak surfaces they were deposited on. Be on the lookout for signs that the wind has been at work, like ripples and dunes on the snow surface. These will help you identify these fresh drifts. If the new snow suddenly becomes deeper or stiffer you've likely found one of these slabs. Cracks shooting out from your skis or machine are a sure sign that these drifts are sensitive. 

Loose Snow Avalanches: Last night's snow fell on a variety of relatively stiff surfaces. You may be able to initiate some small loose snow avalanches that pick up speed quickly on these surfaces. On slopes that don't get much sun, these sluffs will be the dry variety. On slopes that are being warmed up by today's sunshine, the new snow will melt and these small wet sluffs may be a bit easier to trigger than on those where the snow remains dry. In both cases, it will likely take a pretty steep slope to get the new snow moving. However, if you are able to trigger one of these slides it will pick up speed quickly, thanks to the stiff surface underneath the new snow. Cooler temperatures today should prevent the crusts underneath the new snow from melting, but if you are in a location where these crusts are breaking down and you are sinking into wet, slushy snow below, larger wet snow avalanches will be possible and you'd be well served by finding a colder slope to play on. 

We encourage you to continue to follow your basic safe travel protocols, even during periods of LOW danger: Wear your beacon, carry your rescue gear, and know how to use it. Make good plans and keep your eyes on your partners. Only expose one member of your party to avalanche hazard at a time and think about the consequences of being caught and carried down the slope in the terrain that you are traveling through. It is somewhat counterintuitive, but LOW danger days are a great time to practice these habits as we are more likely to be putting ourselves into real avalanche terrain on these days.